Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Before the Storm
Leo
I watched Victoria kneeling before her parents’ graves, her slender form silhouetted against the afternoon light filtering through the ancient oak trees. My wolf, Ronan, paced restlessly within me, both protective and possessive at the sight of our mate in such a vulnerable moment.
Victoria’s soft words to her parents carried on the breeze to my enhanced hearing. "I’m scared," she confessed in a whisper that twisted something in my chest. "Not of dying, but of failing. Of letting down the people counting on me. Of not being strong enough."
The urge to comfort her, to shield her from all harm, nearly overwhelmed me. But I knew better than most that some battles couldn’t be fought for another—only alongside them.
"You are strong enough," I said, stepping forward from where I’d been watching.
She startled, turning to face me with those expressive brown eyes that had captivated me from the beginning. In them, I saw determination mingled with fear—not for herself, but for others. For her pack. For me.
"Leo," she began, hesitation clear in her voice. "If something happens tonight—"
"Nothing will happen," I cut her off, unable to even entertain the possibility of losing her. The mere thought made Ronan howl with fury and desperation inside my mind.
"But if it does," she persisted with that stubborn streak that both frustrated and enthralled me, "I need you to know that I—"
I couldn’t let her finish—couldn’t bear to hear words of love framed as a goodbye. In my centuries of existence, I’d learned that farewells spoken before battle often became prophecies.
"Tell me when we get back," I insisted, cupping her face in my hands, feeling her warmth against my palms. "Not as a goodbye. As a beginning."
Her eyes widened slightly, understanding the promise beneath my words. We would have a future—together. I would accept nothing less.
Turning to her parents’ graves, I lowered my head in respect and began the ancient Alpha’s pledge in the old tongue of our ancestors:
"*I, Leonard Moretti, Alpha of Shadow Pack, stand before the honored ancestors of Victoria Howlthorne. I vow by my blood and honor to protect your daughter, to fight at her side, and to return her safely to these lands. May the Moon Goddess witness my oath and strike me down should I fail.*"
The words held power beyond mere tradition—they were a binding commitment that resonated with my wolf. Ronan howled his agreement, lending strength to the vow.
When I sensed movement at the edge of the cemetery, my instincts instantly shifted to high alert. But what I saw wasn’t a threat—it was a gathering of pack members, both mine and hers, coming together in a show of unity that had become all too rare in our fractured society.
"What’s happening?" Victoria asked, confusion evident in her voice.
My chest swelled with unexpected emotion. "They’ve come to see you off. To offer strength before battle. It’s an old tradition—one I didn’t think anyone remembered."
The sight of my hardened warriors standing alongside Victoria’s Howlthorne pack members stirred something profound within me. For decades, I’d ruled through respect tinged with fear, maintaining walls around my heart that kept others at a safe distance. Yet somehow, this half-wolf, half-Fae woman had not only breached those defenses but had inspired loyalty among my people in ways I hadn’t thought possible.
As Rosa embraced Victoria, I caught the older woman’s knowing glance in my direction. She had seen what was happening between Victoria and me from the beginning.
I watched as each pack member approached Victoria, offering tokens and words of strength. The ritual was affecting her deeply—I could see it in the straightening of her spine, the lifting of her chin. With each blessing bestowed, she seemed to grow more into the role she’d been thrust into.
When Lilith stepped forward, clasping Victoria’s hands with surprising warmth, I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. The woman who had once viewed Victoria as competition was now pledging her support.
"Don’t you dare die out there," Lilith said fiercely. "I’m not ready to be Luna yet."
Victoria’s startled laugh lightened something in my chest. Even facing danger, she retained that spark of life that had drawn me to her—the ability to find joy in unexpected moments.
The ceremony continued, and I found myself studying Victoria’s profile as she received each person’s blessing. The sunlight caught in her hair, highlighting auburn tones I hadn’t noticed before. She was beautiful, yes, but it was her spirit that had captured me—fierce and kind in equal measure, vulnerable yet unbreakable.
*Mine,* Ronan growled possessively within me. *Ours to protect. Ours to cherish.*
For once, I found myself in complete agreement with my wolf.
When the last pack member had stepped back, I knew it was time to depart. We had a mission to complete, an enemy to face, and a future to secure.
"It’s time," I said quietly, moving to her side.
The transformation in her was remarkable. Gone was the uncertain young woman I’d first encountered at the Lunar Ball. In her place stood an Alpha in her own right—one who had earned her title through courage rather than bloodline.
"I’m ready," she replied, her voice steady and resolute.
As we walked toward the waiting vehicles, I reached for her hand, our fingers intertwining naturally. The simple contact sent a current of energy between us, our bond strengthening with every shared moment, every challenge faced together.
I had built an empire from nothing, faced enemies that would have destroyed lesser wolves. Yet nothing had prepared me for the intensity of what I felt for Victoria Howlthorne—this fierce desire to protect her coupled with the knowledge that she was strong enough to stand beside me rather than behind me.
Tonight, we would face Marcus Grimwood. The stakes were higher than they had ever been, not just for our packs but for our future together.
Marcus had miscalculated badly when he’d threatened Victoria. He’d assumed her mixed heritage made her vulnerable, when in reality, it made her uniquely powerful.
As we approached the SUVs where Tiny and my elite warriors waited, I squeezed Victoria’s hand gently, a silent promise passing between us. Whatever came next, we would face it together. And gods help anyone who stood in our way.